Transcript
WALTER ZWEIFEL: The political landscape varies from territory to territory - in French Polynesia, parties allied themselves to the traditional parties, essentially to the hand that feeds them. The concern is that Paris might cut the public service and for leaders in Tahiti that is a worrying prospect. The French Polynesia president only backed Mr Macron once it came to the run-off against Marine Le Pen, and then only as the Macron camp assured him that it would keep the indexed wages of Tahiti's French public servants who earn double their French salary.
In New Caledonia, the French parliamentary election is only the backdrop to the local politics leading up to next year's independence referendum, and support for Mr Macron has been peripheral. The loyalists seem to fear he may have sympathies for those wanting full sovereignty. And tellingly, there is no candidate in either New Caledonia or French Polynesia who is officially endorsed by Mr Macron's new REM Party.
DON WISEMAN: With this referendum due next year, New Caledonia's main pro-independence party said that it would not engage in the French elections this year. Is that being followed?
WZ: Low turnout appears to confirm this to some extent, but somewhat surprisingly in one electorate a pro-independence candidate from another party, that is Louis Mapou, came first in the first round. And suddenly, his possible victory in this weekend's run-off has prompted the Caledonian Union president to change his stance and to go out to vote.
DW: Could that affect the outcome?
WZ: It's possible but observers still expect the incumbent Philippe Gomes to hold the seat. He has been the dominant politician in recent years and his Caledonia Together Party has held both seats in Paris.
DW: The National Front seems to be the staunchest pro-French and nationalistic party but it is unhappy with Mr Gomes although he is against independence. How is that?
WZ: The Paris office and Marine Le Pen oppose anyone advocating independence but for the Front's leader in Noumea Bianca Henin Mr Gomes is too soft. She said she would vote blank because she says he is selling out New Caledonia. In general, the anti-independence camp seems to be on edge. There is concern by some politicians that a secret deal has been struck that would loosen ties. On Thursday, the infighting had reached such a level that a four-party alliance was formed to have a united pro-French stance, which in essence is tacit support for Mr Gomes. The Macron era has wiped out all the French politicians who dealt with New Caledonian decolonisation process and this just adds to the unease among those keen to stay French.
